Under this communistic ‘one assessment — one approval‘ system, major projects ‘assessed’ by the State Government as ‘Critical Infrastructure’ and ‘State Significant Development’ – and propaganda put forward by their instigators – are treated as sacrosanct.

Due to the fact that massive environmental and human devastation is being wreaked through both ‘Critical Infrastructure’ and ‘State Significant Development’ projects, issues additional to RTA schemes are included at Your Place page of this site.

Ballina to Woodburn – aka Woodburn to Ballina – Pacific Highway

Extracts from the 28th January, 2006, article by M.S. Graham: THOSE WHO CREATE EXTINCTION [emphasis added]:-

The last fifteen months of my existence has been drawn away, nay stripped, from independent determination and autonomy, by involvement in one of the greatest injustices and saddest proposals put forward by any Government in the recent history of our nation.

… For those unfamiliar with the Pacific Highway in this area, the present alignment in the Woodburn to Ballina section traverses the completely flat and primarily straight Richmond Floodplain, an area most consider to function ideally as the location of a national highway linkage.

The Highway is mostly located through cleared and degraded cane farming lands on the eastern side of the Richmond River. This section of the Pacific Highway is amongst the safest (as opposed to areas such as the Burringbar Range, Bulahdelah Mountain [note: presumably the now ‘upgraded’ Bulahdelah to Coolongolook section of highway] and Bonville known to be major blackspots and requiring upgrading), and there have been fewer injuries and deaths across this section. The most direct route across the Woodburn to Ballina area is in very close proximity to the existing highway, as a result the location and shape of the study area, extending some four kilometers westward of the current highway was highly perplexing.

… Due to the massive level of error in studies prepared by Geolyse Consultants on behalf of (and reviewed by) the RTAand the dawning realization that the RTA intended to desecrate what were already known to be nationally significant ecosystems, I personally undertook to ensure that the true level of their significance would be well documented and the information made available to the broader public. I convened a number of public meetings in order to alert the community to the fact that a six lane freeway was proposed to pass through bushland, farms and homes as far away as four and a half kilometers from the existing highway.

The RTA has announced preferred routes in the Woodburn to Ballina Upgrade Routes 1C, 2C and 3B. The chosen routes in Section 2 create the greatest ecological impact of any selected.

The route that the RTA has chosen (Route 2C) is 2km longer than the existing highway.

Unacceptably massive additional greenhouse gases emissions will be created by the destruction of coastal wetlands and rainforests and the additional travelling distance on the Pacific Highway.

Substantial areas of seven different endangered ecological communities listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act will be destroyed by Route 2C.

Internationally significant rainforest remnants at the southern edge of the Big Scrub will be destroyed by Option 2C.

Habitat for over 50 threatened species occurs along Route 2C including nationally endangered species such as Coxens Fig Parrot, the Albert’s Lyrebird (the only coastal populations and the southernmost isolated population), Ground Parrot and Long Nosed Potoroo.

The largest and most important wildlife corridors and largest areas of old growth forest in the Lower Richmond Valley occur along the alignment of Route 2C – these will be severed and fragmented by construction of a six lane freeway.

Major outstanding flaws in the ecological assessments undertaken for the RTA have not been addressed, despite having been raised as early as June.

Vegetation mapping is (still) incorrect across large swathes of the chosen route (Route 2C) examples include:
1. Large areas of Endangered Ecological Community incorrectly mapped.
2. Large Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplain (some larger than 10 hectares) have not been shown in mapping released in the final route report, despite having been shown to RTA staff and consultants.
3. No mapping or indication of old growth forest.

Many options exist that will have NO impact upon threatened species and endangered ecological communities and that are far shorter than the option released.

The RTA has chosen a route that will deprive this and future generations of irreplaceable old growth wetlands and rainforests and of species that have disappeared from almost everywhere else on the planet.

Good Guys owner Rory Curtis said he did not understand why yellow or blue commercial signage could not be included permanently.

“So regardless of if there’s 1000 businesses who say ‘this is what we want’, it’ll stay the same,” Mr Curtis said…

“We are the ones employing hundreds of locals that have to survive the next 12 months of construction and be sustainable when the project ends,” [said Mr. Curtis.]

According to one of the comments in response to Banora upgrade bad for business, the Banora upgrade is also extremely dangerous:-

this is the most dangerous upgrade i have ever seen.the round a bout at banora to go onto the highway is a mess. not to mention the lanes being skinny and hundreds of people trying to fit into them.i avoid going to south tweed if possible as i don’t have to risk my life driving through this mess!

[Comment by sea-ella in response to Banora upgrade bad for businessarticle. Emphasis added.]

________________________________

Berry – Princes Highway

‘… Berry residents angered by fundamentally flawed RTA process (conducted by the consultants Maunsells) which will destroy the unique character of the Berry township and its surrounding landscapes, and terminally deplete the significant tourism revenues flowing from the area‘. [Ref: Berry Southern Option Supporters Media Release.]

Extracts from Bypass changes directionarticle of 8th February, 2012, by Glenn Ellard from the South Coast Register:-

HEATED debate over the future of a Berry bypass has taken an unexpected twist with Roads and Maritime Services (formerly the RTA) investigating a new southern route put forward by engineer Bruce Ramsay, who was responsible for changes to the planned northern route.

Mr Ramsay, who retired to the Shoalhaven after running major construction companies around the world, drew up amendments to the planned northern bypass route on behalf of the organisation Better Options for Berry…

He has drawn up a plan for a southern bypass that “resolves about 95 per cent of the problems with the northern option”, and which he said was a genuine bypass that would preserve Berry’s integrity and character for the next 100 years…

“It’s just a no-brainer,” he said, adding he could not understand why a bypass to the south of Berry had not previously been thoroughly investigated.

“I’ve asked the questions, but I never get an answer to them,” he said.

“This is well away from the town, people are not affected by it, it is a true bypass…

The Roads & Maritime Services (RMS – formerly RTA) website states that following a request from the Member for Kiama [Mr Gareth James WARD, BA, BCom, MAICD, JP MP] to ensure estimates and assumptions [“assumptions”!] used to previously discontinue planning to the south of Berry are “robust”, is undertaking a costing review of a southern alternative for the Berry Bypass. RMS states [emphasis added]: The review is focussing on costso that decision makers can understand the viability of a southern route when compared against the corresponding length of the RMS preferred northern route.

6-6-2013:On 25th June, 2012, the Southern Bypass of Berry was ruled out by Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads & Ports (whose 27-6-2011 letter-full of lies regarding the Bulahdelah Bypass, written by his then Chief of Staff, Jaymes Boland-Rudder, is available at the Tokenistic/corrupt/ignorant Responses/comments from Politicians page of this site).

Gay claimed that the southern bypass would cost over $100 million more than the northern route which is now intended to be used. Ref: Illawarra MercuryarticleGovt rulesout Berry bypass southern option.

RMS June 2012 To the householderdocument stating: The NSW Government has announced the northern alignment as the preferred route for the Foxground and Berry bypass, Princes Highway Upgrade.

The following comment (republished here with the author’s permission) was published by A. Carrall on 11th March, 2013 on the South Coast Register’s facebook page (emphasis added)-

Some of the destruction Roads & Maritime Services (RMS, the renamed notorious RTA) has planned for Berry and its residents is in the document (Princes Highway upgrade – Foxground and Berry bypass prepared for Roads and Maritime Services Aquatic ecology and water quality management assessment – November 2012). From page G – i of the Executive Summary:-

‘RMS is seeking approval under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for the upgrade of 11.6 kilometres of the Princes Highway, to achieve a four lane divided highway (two lanes in each direction) with median separation between Toolijooa Road north of Foxground and Schofields Lane, south of Berry (the project). The project would include bypasses of Foxground and Berry’.

Operation of crushing plant and transport of materials. [At but not necessarily limited to Bulahdelah, rock crushing was carried out without suppression of dust with water.]

Creation of airborne dust and use of dust suppression/washdown facilities. [At Bulahdelah, RMS and their contractor, Baulderstone, have exposed an entire township and beyond to (but not limited to) deadly silica dust from unrestricted – i.e. not watered down – blasting, crushing and transportation activities. Examples here: and here.]

Incidentally, at Bulahdelah an actual bypass to the west was planned over a quarter of a century ago with the Motorway Pacific project. That made no difference to the decision by RMS (when operating under the title Roads & Traffic Authority) to locate the (fraudulently named) Bulahdelah Bypass in a registered Public Reserve immediately adjacent to the township.

To Berry residents who are aware of the corruption and brutality behind RMS – RTA -highway ‘upgrades’: Where is your Facebook Page?

The Foxground and Berry “bypass” section of the Princes Highway upgrade is to be approved under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).

Page 116 of the Princes Highway Upgrade – Foxground and Berry bypass Roads and Maritime Services Environmental assessment. [This document – sourced at the RMS website – was created by RMS on 5-11-2012 and modified by RMS on 12-11-2012.]

RMS is seeking project approval for the proposed Foxground and Berry bypass section of the Princes Highway upgrade under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).

The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure declared under the then Section 75B of the EP&A Act, by Order published in NSW Government Gazette No. 114 on 10 September 2010, that development for the purpose of the Foxground and Berry bypass is a project to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act applies. A copy of the order is in Appendix B.

The NSW Government repealed Part 3A of the EP&A Act on 1 October 2011 and put in place Part 5.1 of the EP&A Act with associated transitional arrangements. The transitional arrangements under Schedule 6A of the EP&A Act provide that the project is a transitional major project to which Part 3A of the EP&A Act continues to apply.

On 24 October 2012 the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Transitional Part 3A Projects) Regulation 2012 came into force. This amendment introduces a revised cut-off date for an environmental assessment report to be submitted, failing which a project ceases to be a transitional Part 3A project. Revisions to the period for a response to issues raised in submissions, for preferred project reports and for a revised statement of commitments were also made.

The Director-General’s environmental assessment requirements (DGRs) for the project were issued on 11 February 2011, prior to the repeal of Part 3A.

The approval of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is required to carry out the project. …

Regarding the obstructionist, bullying attitude of the RTA towards the Bullaburra Township Committee (BTC), attacking the BTC’s proposed alternative plan for the [Great Western Highway] road widening through Bullaburra, here’s my take on what locals are saying:

1. The major political parties are basically inept, unable to listen to constituents and consumed with retaining/grasping power

2. Phil Koperberg (then local Labor MP) has no effectively influential power, says anything to avoid an issue, is “a bit of a show pony”, and has furthered his career utilising the ‘who you know, not what you know’ approach

3. The RTA is seen as a mob of bureaucratic bullies, are even more incompetent than their political masters (the Hazelbrook railway bridge fiasco is common knowledge), and are responsible/answerable solely to the faceless bosses located deeply within the termite mound of RTA headquarters.

4. RTA representatives at community meetings are aggressive, non-consultative, driven only by their own preferred agendas, ill-prepared, and are the antithesis of ‘public servants’

5. Exiting either Boronia or Genevieve Road is currently dangerous, and will become definitely more so with the planned RTA ‘seagull’ intersection, increased speed restrictions (from 70kph to 80kph) and higher traffic volumes (particularly those larger faster trucks).

The BTC’s plan is a far better solution for the Bullaburra area than the ‘crash through or crash anyway’ RTA proposal; it’s a plan that addresses the needs of the people who live here, not the needs of a termite from a city office, and incorporates beneficial infrastructure, not just ‘bloody minded’ bitumen.

Elected government members, and RTA personnel, should realise that they are our representatives, and that locals are becoming more politically astute, voting more for independents, if only to make our representatives more representative. Those bullies that remain, hiding behind the skirts of party machinery, should recall the destiny of the dinosaur. Or just move to the last bastions of ‘Bullyville’: Zimbabwe, Myanmar, etc.

… instead of a road to serve the future for the people of NSW, we are to suffer a road that desecrates their past.

The NSW Government, through its agency the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), is intent on desecrating the historic Hartley Valley right around to Bowenfels, according to the Highway Action Group.

The lobbyists have reacted angrily to the RTA announcement last week that an option to develop the Mt Victoria-Lithgow highway deviation across the Newnes Plateau had been abandoned and the new highway would come through the Hartley Valley.

…

A spokesman for the action group, Ramsay Moodie, said the RTA had ignored the significance of Hartley, often referred to as “the most historic valley in Australia”, a valley though which western NSW was developed, following the historic crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth in 1813.

… the plethora of historic heritage assets we have in this valley are such that the valley should be regarded as a reserve for future generations, coupling this with its importance as an element of the Western Blue Mountains escarpment wildlife corridor, should make the valley untouchable.

“… the Hartley Valley is described as ‘the most historic valley’ in Australia for its wealth of heritage assets,” [said David Peters]:

* More than 20 very early historic buildings.

* The remains of three convict-military stockades and many early settler home sites.

* A number of significant indigenous heritage sites.

* Several heritage cemeteries and gravesites.

* A 19th century industrial site in the Hartley Vale village.

* The remains of the 1870s incline railway that traversed the 300 metre escarpment to serve the Hartley Vale site.

* In addition the valley is littered with historical artefacts, sandstone blocks bearing convict marks, early convict bricks, ancient bottles and the remnant remains from the Hartley Vale industrial site, a once rich source of bits and pieces for use on local farms,

and perhaps most significant of all

* The vista from Mt York, won by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth when they succeeded in their historic crossing of the mountains in 1813.

NSW opposition roads spokesperson Andrew Stoner has vowed to stop the proposed Mt Victoria to Lithgow highway upgrade if the Coalition wins the 2011 State election, calling the current plans a mess and a waste of money.

The NSW Nationals leader made the promise during a meeting with members of the Blackheath, Hartley and Mt Victoria highway action lobby groups in Blackheath.

“What the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is proposing is not going to solve the (road freight efficiency) problem and money would be better spent upgrading the Bells Line of Road,” Mr Stoner said.

“If elected, the coalition will bring a halt to the RTA’s current plans, including its red and orange corridor option through Mt Victoria.”

Note added 4-6-2011: The NSW State Election took place on Saturday, 26th March, 2011. Hon. Andrew John Stoner, Bbus, MBA MP, is now Deputy Premier, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services.

________________________________

Herons Creek to Stills Road – Pacific Highway

On Wednesday, 18th April, 2012, labourers working on the Herons Creek to Stills Road upgrade became ill with nausea and vomiting after encountering a ‘clay-like material’.

Probably the most comprehensive news article to date is from Port Macquarie News: Road workers ill after finding suspected toxic dump site. The article provides a link to a YouTube video with footage of the aftermath of a 1980 road accident in which a young man driving a panel van died after his vehicle hit another car and then spun into the path of a semi-trailer. The semi-trailer was carrying drums of radioactive material, two of which fell onto the road at the scene of the accident.

Transcript of the YouTube video:-

Reporter: It was supposed to ’ve been a straightforward upgrade to another section of the notorious Pacific Highway. But, the discovery of potentially harmful contaminants has brought construction to a standstill. And the fact it’s this particular stretch of road is raising eyebrows.

Port Macquarie’s Don Barnes was on his way to work there on the fourth of December, 1980, when his car was hit by a southbound panel van, which then spun into the path of a semi-trailer, killing the van’s young driver instantly.

Don Barnes: “He just collected me, and pulled the door of my car, spun around in front of the semi-trailer and the semi-trailer went over the top of him.”

A third drum, a black one, with radioactive materials at the site of the 1980 accident. (Screen capture from YouTube video.)

Reporter: At the time, advice from an employee of the Atomic Energy Commission to the policemen who handled one of the drums was to ‘go for a swim to wash off any of the radioactive particles which may have escaped’.

[Excerpt from the ABC News article Radioactive discovery halts Pacific Highway upgrade (emphasis added):John Mackay, a doctor who treated police who became ill at the crash site in 1980, says he is convinced they suffered radiation poisoning. Dr Mackay says the officers handled radioactive matter that was onboard the truck. “The police were instructed by Lucas Heights to approach the radioactive containers, of which there were several, but in particular the caesium-137containers and put their arms inside of it to check if the inside radioisotope had been broken,” he said. “Within seconds or minutes the men felt intensely sick.” (Radioactive cesium-137 is produced when uranium and plutonium absorb neutrons and undergo fission.Examples of the uses of this process are nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.)]

Police handling red drum at the scene of the 1980 accident. (Screen capture from YouTube video.)

Police handling red drum with radioactive materials at the scene of the 1980 accident. (Screen capture from YouTube video.)

“The police were instructed by Lucas Heights to approach the radioactive containers, of which there were several, but in particular the caesium-137containers and put their arms inside of it to check if the inside radioisotope had been broken.” (Screen capture from YouTube video.)

In 2008, before work started on the current upgrade, a government report identified as containing the capped remnant material from the 1980 truck crash. It also warned the project was likely to impact on the buried material.

Don Barnes: “There must be something there now ’cause these rumours that the guys that dug it up – there’s been an illness with a couple of the guys working there, so I dunno.

Reporter: A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson says independent chemical specialists have been on site collecting samples; tests will determine if there’s a chemical present, what it is and how it can be removed.

21-4-2012 screen capture of comments made at YouTube by a police officer who was at the scene of the 1980 crash of the truck carrying radioactive isotopes.

That’s me as a policeman in 1980. Healthy and fit. This is what happens As a result of govt coverups and distorted facts, Lies and conspiracy. I have never been the same since. Terry Clifton former Senior Constable.

I feel for you, that’s a terrible injury to suffer in the course of work duties.

The highway was already dual carriageway, when you consider Port to Ballina is largely single carriageway, the money would’ve been better spent duplicating other sections that are more in need.

Great work to NBN for uploading at least 3 videos about this online.

Thanks Mick for the kind words. I wish that the police dept were as kind. They recognised the injury as ‘hurt on duty’ and directed me to go out medically unfit and the boarded me out of the police without any compensation or pension. Only a number. Terry Clifton

At 1.06 on the movie the container is opened and someone sticks their arm in. Why would you stick your arm in a container marked radioactive? Terry some of the DMR workers have died of cancer that were there

The DECContaminatedLand Register was searched for known records of contaminated land within the study area and no records were found. However, anecdotal evidence has suggested that there are possibly two areas of contaminated land within the study area.

These are:

The former site of a service station located at the southern end of the study area, immediately north of the Herons Creek crossing. There is a possibility that the subsurface petrol tanks are still located on-site; and

A site of a heavy vehicle accident that resulted in hazardous material beingspilt.The accident took place in the 1980s approximately 300m south of the Cutty Creek crossing on the northbound carriageway.The hazardous material / contaminated land was buried, under EPA direction, immediately west of the Highway within the road reserve.

There is also anecdotal evidence that the study area contains an area of unsuitable fill material. During previous RTA works associated with the construction of the southbound carriageway of the Pacific Highway, an area south of the Cutty Creek culvert was used to receive redundant materials.

Potential Constraints

The Proposal has the following potential constraints with regard to landform, geology and soils:

Limited information is available on the geology and soil profiles of the study area;

The soils of the study area are susceptible to a moderate level of erosion when exposed;

As a result of the topography within the study area, it is likely that earthworks would be moderate, especially in regards to the deep depression associated with Cutty Creek;

The study area could contain two areas of contaminated land that has [sic] not been previously recorded. The locations of the land is [sic] at the southern end of the study area, immediately north of the Herons Creek crossing, and approximately 300m south of the Cutty Creek crossing on the northbound carriageway; and

The study area could contain an area of unsuitable fill material south of the Cutty Creek culvert, which was used to receive redundant materials during previous RTA works within the study area.

Page 27Factor: Landform, Geology and Soils

Recommendation:

Implement an appropriate Soil and Water Management Plan during and after construction;

Limit the amount of soil exposure and the duration in which soil is exposed;

Undertake further detailed investigation of the geology and soil profiles of the study area and investigate potential sources of fill if required; and

Undertake further detailed investigation of the two areas of potential contaminated land and the area of unsuitable fill material.

The following results were obtained from desktop database searches conducted for the study area. The information below provides a summary of the search results. Copies of all the search results are provided in *Appendix B.

39 DECCnotes that there is some uncertainty regarding the exact location and extent of contamination resulting from the traffic accident in 1980. Given this uncertainty it is therefore essential that the contaminated land investigations are properly targeted and informed. In that regard, DECC recommends that groundwater sampling be undertaken in the vicinity of the suspected contamination area to provide further information of the extent and nature of contamination.

Section 9.1.2 and Appendix B of the REF provide details of the assessment of the potential contaminated sites within the proposed upgrade site. The assessment has been carried out in accordance with the relevant NSW EPA guidelines and concluded that:

• The site assessed is identified as a former chemical burial site, approximately 7m x 12m in size, located between the northbound and southbound carriageways of the Pacific Highway. This chemical burial site contains the capped remnant material from a 1980 truck accident on the highway.

• The proposed upgrade is likely to impact on the buried materials.

• There were minor levels of pesticides within the buried materials.

• The buried material could be classed as “inert waste” with respect to NSW EPA guidelines, and are suitable for direct disposal to a licensed landfill.

The RTA will ensure that if any material is excavated from the former chemical burial site it will be disposed off at a suitably licensed landfill.

The RTA agrees with this proposal and Section 9.1.4 of the REF states “If any contaminated or potentially contaminated material is exposed during earthworks then work in the area should ceaseand a qualified consultant be engaged to investigate the extend [sic] of contamination and recommend measures to dispose of contaminated material.” Contingency measures will be included in the CEMP [Construction Environment Management Plan] prepared for the project. The RTA will consult with the DECC during the preparation of the CEMP.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Screen capture from YouTube video of NBN Interview: Bob Higgins on radiation scare on Pacific Highway near Port Macquarie. [Robert – Bob – Higgins is Manager of the entire Pacific Highway upgrade. He is responsible for (but not necessarily limited to) hazardous substance (silica dust) contamination at Bulahdelah from (but not necessarily limited to) approximately a year and a quarter of dry-crushing of (but not limited to) sandstone and alunite (aka alum stone).At Bulahdelah, hundreds of lives, including those of children, have been exposed to this deadly dust and other noxious substances. As at 8-5-2012 RMS and Lend Lease subsidiary Baulderstone continue to contaminate Bulahdelah. Bulahdelah residents with expertise on the situation can be contacted at the Facebook group: Save the Alum Mountain, Bulahdelah.]

Herons Creek to Stills Road: “If any contaminated or potentially contaminated material is exposed during earthworks then work in the area should cease …” [RTA (now RMS) response to DECC (now Office of Environment & Heritage) Contaminated Land Issue 40.]

According to a comment (at YouTube) in response to the Interview: Bob Higgins on radiation scare on Pacific Highway near Port Macquarie, several weeks elapsed between the time two workers became ill and an exclusion zone was put in place.

I work there and what they bob didnt mention was A) it was several weeks from when two blokes got sick to when the exclusion zone was put in place – B)the exclusion zone was only set up after a doctor examined a worker and ordered a 500m exclusion zone to be implimented[sic] – C) half the bloody stuff has been shifted already to various other parts of the job for road base!!! What a Joke this interview is!!!!

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Murrumbateman – Barton Highway

In a Yass Tribune article of 25-11-2010 Federal Member for Hume, Alby Schultz, is reported as having ‘slammed’ both sides of government – including his own – for an “appalling” lack of committment to road funding for the Barton Highway ‘duplication’.

Actually appalling is the manifest failure on the part of Mr. Schultz and others who agitate for ‘duplication’ and ‘upgrading’ of highways to investigate what they’re really pushing for. The RTA’s intended route for the Barton Highway at Murrumbateman is outlined below. As is the case with the RTA’s intended route for the Pacific Highway at Bulahdelah, there is a safe alternative but the RTA intends to build a dangerous section of highway and to wreak havoc on the lives of people in the township.

The following documentation is republished with permission:-

5/24/2006 – [Emphasis added]

The Government of New South Wales and the RTA has sought to force through its selection of the wrong route for the bypass of Murrumbateman. The route it calls “Eastern” but which splits the town 70%-30% is an unsafe design. The RTA has clearly breached its own design processes, its own code of conduct and its own safety standards…

Insert: The dangerous route chosen by the RTA for the Barton Highway at Murrumbateman.

A vastly superior alternative route is available, west of the Local Environment Plan which defines the town area for Murrumbateman … .

Insert: This image clearly shows the western route at Murrumbateman (Barton Highway) to be much safer than the dangerous internal route chosen by the RTA.

The RTA stacked the community consultation group, ducked its duty to compare the two alternatives (by comparing instead its proposed route with the safety standard of the existing deficient road)and corrupted the process of choosing the bypass route. We condemn their dishonesty. But that corruption now comes as no surprise as this website has recorded the RTA’s past practices in bypass decisions and the RTA’s dishonest, covert practices in tollroad contracting have been abundantly recorded elsewhere. It is disappointing however that the Government of NSW has yet to appreciate that the RTA’s bypass decisions have been systemically corrupt and should be overturned.

The Committee for the Western Bypass of Murrumbateman has long fought for the correct choice of the western bypass of the town. It has expended tens of thousands of dollars on the pursuit of government documents and on the publication of the facts. The Committee members must now fight to overturn the RTA decision. The announcement of budget funds to redevelop the Highway from the ACT border to the Hume Highway means the process to plan the bypass must start again. We have lost count how many times this route has been planned.

[There are additional records] of the campaign for the Western bypass of Murrumbateman. It is a lowpoint of Council apathy and Ministerial responsibility that the corrupt selection by the RTA bureaucracy of the inferior “Eastern” bypass route of Murrumbateman is yet to be corrected.

Insert: Murrumbateman ‘bypass’ as per RTA ‘display’ May, 2010. Deadly air and noise pollution being inflicted on as many people as possible and a dangerous new section of highway.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

11:31 26-09-02 [Author’s name deleted]:

… I have read the submissions sent by the people of Murrumbateman to the RTA. They raise the major safety objections to the proposed ‘internal bypass’.

But what reply did they get from the RTA?

And what response from the Commonwealth Department (who will have to pay half the cost because this is a Road-Of-National-Importance)? What do they say about being asked to pay half of a more expensive “East” project? What do they say about funding the cost of more accidents and injuries?What do they say about compromising all their road safety project objectives?

18:05 26-09-02 [Author’s name deleted]:

Dear …

The RTA gave the authors of submissions only an acknowledgement of receipt, no answers.

The Department advised the Minister for Transport confidentially.

We can only assume that the Department and the Minister have been hoodwinked by the RTA’s report and the RTA’s lie about conducting a safety review.

When charged with evaluating the Highway alternatives, RTA fudged by comparing its favourite (“East”), not with the best option (“West”), but with the OLD ROAD!This is not the only insolent abuse by RTA of the process of comparing alternative highway routes (as you have observed).

Why do you ask about the responses, …?

09:17 27-09-02 [Author’s name deleted]:

… I want to know where this road went off the rails.

I have read the submissions on [webpage no longer at link provided] and the supporters’ comments on [webpage no longer at link provided]

The RTA designs bypass roads every day. But their report on the Barton Highway bypass of Murrumbateman is totally wrong on safety and on environmental impact and on community impact. The problem is not just that the RTA answers to the evaluation of these most critical factors is wrong … the whole process was wrong.

Take safety as an example.The formal evaluation process up to mid [91 typing error – 01, not ‘91’ see *below] had totally, unaccountably omitted this factor.I cannot tell you with more certainty: that cannot happen by accident! Then, submissions pointed out the need for a Safety Audit and quoted the Australian Standard. But a Safety Audit was not done, and the review that was done did not compare the RTA’s preference, “East” with the patently superior “West”. It compared “East” with the old road!No RTA engineer would ever do that by accident.

So I’m looking for something that explains their reasons. … they have not yet explained.

*Sorry …, I meant the process up to mid 01 (not 91) had neglected safety. No, “neglected” suggests it was forgotten. This most important aspect of highway design had been deliberately suppressed.

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Sapphire to Woolgoolga – Pacific Highway ‘upgrade’

Sapphire to Woolgoolga – The dust noise and vibrations have become unbearable with many residents finding their homes unliveable from 7am every morning, six days a week. The RTA set up a “complaints line” which Leighton [the perpetrator] operates!

Fedup Hadenough [emphasis added]

22 May 2012 11:40 PM

It’s a wonder Leighton’s have not been investigated further/earlier (Leighton Holdings placed in trading halt, May 22). A great example is their behaviour on the Sapphire to Woolgoolga (Pacific Hwy upgrade) operating with little to no consideration for residents.

The dust noise and vibrations have become unbearable with many residents finding their homes unlivable from 7am every morning, six days a week. The RTA set up a “complaints line” which Leighton operates!

All seen to be doing but residents have no recourse from any other agency. Many have had to literally abandoned their homes due to extreme noise dust and vibrations. They little monitoring in place and the [sic] is all “doctored” to tick the boxes. Some residents liken the vibrations as having your head in a boom box all day. Dust has been so bad at times that breathing is difficult. Noise has been extreme especially on sections with houses along the Hwy.

Instead of using Well muffled and cowled trucks, they have opted for the nosiest Mack truck and dogs. Cutting corners, using cheaper plant/equipment with no due consideration for people living there, instead of properly silenced trucks and plant.

The minister (Duncan Gay) is aware yet does nothing.It’s time this company was investigated along with government and ministers on how a major road could be built along front and back yards with “all the paperwork appearing” to be correct then nobody monitoring affected residents. As far as Leighton’s is concerned if they can cut corners they will – equating to more profits at the expense of resident’s misery.

Let’s sell off this company and see if that makes them act more ethically in how they operate.

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Sapphire to Woolgoolga – Residents Exposed to Asbestos.

“They told me the demolition of the house was going to happen, but they never said anything about asbestos,” said the owner of the house next door to this. Cropped image from The Coffs Coast Advocatearticle of 24th August, 2011.

Over the fence from their … property, work is under way to demolish a house [i.e. the house right next door to theirs], containing the hazardous material.

The building has been acquired by the Roads and Traffic Authority [later renamed: Roads & Maritime Services] under the Sapphire to Woolgoolga Pacific Highway upgrade project.

It is understood joint contractors for the $705 million highway project, Leighton and Fulton Hogan, contracted a licensed asbestos removal company to conduct the demolition.

As a workman in protective clothing and a respirator mask removed asbestos sheeting from the house on Monday, the windows to his home remained open, [the home owner] said.

He said the first he knew about an asbestos clean-up was when he spotted the safety fencing erected around the property with countless warning signs that asbestos was present.

“They told me the demolition of the house was going to happen, but they never said anything about asbestos,” [he] said.

“I came home and the windows were open … it was a windy day and there was dust in the house. …

*“An [sic] pre-inspection of the house before the demolition showed the asbestos is chrysotile (white asbestos, which poses less risks to public safety),” he [an anonymous RTA spokesman] said.

The RTA said the Sapphire to Woolgoolga project team contacted Mr Rodriguez about the demolition work on August 10 and had since explained the safety measures that were in place.

[The home owner] denies that he has been contacted since the demolition started.

* Chrysotile asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral that is a known carcinogen (causes cancer). As with other forms of asbestos, exposure to chrysotile can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Australia has decided that the threat to the health of workers from exposure to chrysotile is not acceptable and is therefore introducing a ban on its import and use. The ban took effect from 31st December 2003. (Ref: Government of Western Australia – Department of Commerce.)

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Sapphire to Woolgoolga – “A string of minor crashes on the highway worksite” in just one week.

Tintenbar to Ewingsdale – Pacific Highway upgrade

Tunnel blasts drive St Helena couple to despair

WHEN Winsome and Albert Ormsby built their home at St Helena 13 years ago, they planned to hand it down to the next generation of their family.

… the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade has crushed those dreams.

Now, the couple are desperate to sell their property after months of blasts to the rock beneath St Helena has taken a toll on their mental and physical health.

Since the construction of the tunnel began in May, the dust, noise, shaking and pollution have caused Winsome to experience panic attacks and hypertension and her husband has become increasingly frail.

Albert said when the upgrade began the couple thought everything would “be okay” after they were told by Roads and Maritime Services they lived in an area “not affected” by the blasts.

However after being unable to open their window for months due to dust and noise they are at their wits end.

“We thought we’d be able to wear it, but after a while it just gets to you; the noise and the dust and the shaking and the stress of it really,” Winsome said. …

*When asked about compensation provided to residents, a RMS spokesperson said if a resident reported suspected damage caused by the work, an inspection will be carried out and repairs will be completed.

*[Numerous homes have been blasting-damaged at (but not necessarily limited to) Bulahdelah and Nerong. RMS (RTA) has left the owners to either foot the bills for said damage and, for those who are unwilling/unable to afford repairs, to experience ongoing deterioration of their RMS (RTA) damaged properties. In regard to Nerong: The RMS said after these concerns were raised back in 2009 three separate assessments were carried out by external assessors including the contractor, an insurance assessor and a specialist appointed by the former Department of Planning. Ref: Myall Coast Notaarticle – Residents vow to fight –Thursday 11th April, 2013.]

He also said RMS was “working closely with residents to reduce any disturbance from controlled blasting for the St Helena Tunnel”.

Site contractor Baulderstone refused to comment for this story.

N.B. There is a facebook group, RTA – RMS – Highway Upgrade Victims, available for adversely affected people and those who support them to provide the public with accurate information.

In a joint statement, Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said workers building the 434-metre long tunnel are expected to dig through rock that has not been disturbed since it flowed as magma from Mt Warning about 23 million years ago.

[Albanese stated] “The tunnelling is expected to take 10-12 months and when complete in 2014, will accommodate three lanes of traffic in each direction,” Mr Albanese says in the statement.

“In the coming days, workers will begin excavating the tunnel using drill and controlled blast methods to get through the strong basalt rock.

“This is state of the art technology which will help break though rock that is believed to have originated from lava flows from a volcano centred on Mount Warning roughly 23 million years ago.”

Silica content of basalt varies with basalt type. In the case of basalt with “low” silica content, less than half of the basalt weight is silica.Ref: rocksandminerals4u.

… BASALT CONTAINS SILICA IN THE FORM OF SILICA DIOXIDE (QUARTZ). DUST PRODUCED FROM CUTTING OR REMOVING CAN CAUSE SILICOSIS, A RESPIRATORY DISEASE THAT IS TYPICALLY FATAL.

The World Health Organization’s Silica Fact Sheet No. 238 states:-

Respirable silica dust may be invisible to the naked eye and is so light that it can remain airborne for a long time. It can thus travel long distances in the air and so affect populations not otherwise considered to be at risk.

Screenshot from The Northern Star’s video of blasting of igneous rock for the St Helena tunnel. Note the close proximity of the St Helena tunnel blasting to people’s homes.

Screenshot from The Northern Star’s video of blasting of igneous rock for the St Helena tunnel. The cloud of white is silica dust – a Group 1 human carcinogen and the sole cause of the terminal lung disease silicosos. In NSW silica dust is a listed Hazardous Substance.

Wells Crossing to Iluka – Pacific Highway ‘upgrade’

An RTA proposal to realign the Pacific Highway through the last sanctuary of the Eastern Coastal Emu undermines this unique species’ very right to survival.

This Emu is now limited to a small area along the Yuragir coastline and 40km inland, with its habitat reduced by 85% over the past 20 years. It is precisely this last sanctuary that the RTA are seeking to dissect with their preferred route options. The emus move in an east-west direction as they nest, forage or rear chicks, relying on a mosaic of vegetation types.

Any Pacific Highway route through in this area would be tantamount to full-scale slaughter.

The Wells Crossing – Iluka Upgrade: If built, this Motorway will destroy the most significant nationally listed (DIWA) coastal wetlands in Northern NSW, the Coldstream Wetlands. Furthermore it will create the extinction of the largest populations remaining of the Endangered Coastal Emu, and will destroy the habitat of over 107 threatened species and 7 endangered ecological communities. If built it will generate the greatest single loss of native vegetation on the North Coast in well over a century.

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WHAT’S THE PRICE OF 29 HECTARES, CORE KOALA HABITAT IN A NATIONAL PARK?

The forest under threat is within the RTA Pacific Highway Easement through Bongil Bongil National Park south of Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. …

Abigroup is the Construction Corporation now under contract with the Iemma Government to “finalise design and then construct” the proposed new dual carriage Motorway through the National Park and Bonville in southern Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.

Construction along the RTA preferred route will unnecessarily destroy 29 hectares of Core Koala habitat including Old growth Forest.

However,the easement available to Abigroup, (to ‘design and construct’ the Dual Carriageway), also includes recently logged plantation adjacent and parallel to the RTA preferred route.

The RTA produced a dodgy Representations Report falsely claiming: ‘this alternative alignment would have greater environmental impacts than the chosen route.’

Forest Action Group spokesperson Trevor Pike said, this claim by the RTA is a blatant lie. They claim that the logged plantation has greater ecological value than hollow-bearing Old growth Forest and Core Koala Habitat. Their claim is ridiculous.

The RTA has manipulated both the Iemma Government and Abigroup into a disastrous position. Mr Pike said Morris Iemma and Abigroup will both suffer ignominy and public outrage at the looming, and unnecessary, destruction of the scenically significant, High Conservation Value Core Koala Habitat.

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Yelgun to Chinderah – Pacific Highway ‘upgrade’

119 ROADS—YELGUN TO CHINDERAH PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE—Mr Cohen to ask the Minister for Mineral Resources, and Minister for Fisheries representing the Minister for Transport, and Minister for Roads—

(1) Is the Minister aware that the “compensatory habitat” package for the Yelgun to Chinderah section of the Pacific Highway upgrade falls short of approximately 200 hectares when compared to the Brunswick River to Yelgun section to the south?

(2) Is the Minister concerned that the RTA placed particular emphasis on the compensation package for the Yelgun to Chinderah section at its meetings and workshops and has now failed to meet its obligations for an adequate compensatory package?

(3) Is the Minister aware that the RTA has invested approximately $3.5 million on a “cut and cover” tunnel and a further $1 million on a fauna underpass to accommodate the movement of fauna along the Jones Road (Marshalls Ridges) wildlife corridor and into the Billinudgel Nature Reserve?

(4) Is the Minister aware the RTA has not bought the crucial link of habitat north and south of Jones Road given that the Marshalls Ridges is required to link this “cut and cover” tunnel to the Billinudgel Nature Reserve?

(5) Is the Minister aware that unless the RTA acquires this crucial link around Jones Road to the reserve, the fauna will be exiting the tunnel into open cane fields, making the expenditure on the “cut and cover” tunnel completely futile?

(6) Will the Minister take urgent steps to ensure that the crucial link area is purchased and that at least an equivalent area of compensatory habitat is acquired for the Yelgun link?